Church Year & Holy Days

“By means of the yearly cycle, the Church celebrates the whole mystery of Christ, from his incarnation until the day of Pentecost and the expectation of his coming again.” – Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, no.102 & General Norms for the Liturgical Year and Calendar, no. 17

HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION: In 1991, the bishops of the United States asked for permission of the Holy See to lift the obligation to attend Mass on three holy days of obligation when they fell on certain dates. After permission was granted, the following statement was issued by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:

“In addition to Sunday, the days to be observed as holy days of obligation in the Latin Rite dioceses of the USA include the following solemnities: Mary, Mother of God (Jan. 1); the Ascension of the Lord; the Assumption of Mary (Aug. 15); All Saints (Nov. 1); the Immaculate Conception of Mary(Dec. 8); and the Nativity of the Lord/Christmas(Dec. 25). Whenever January 1, the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, or August 15, the solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, or November 1, the solemnity of All Saints, falls on a Saturday or a Monday, the obligation to attend Mass is lifted.” (USCCB, December 13, 1991)

The information below is offered to assist parishes as they prepare the liturgies for the coming year.

LENT- EASTER 2019: Ash Wednesday is March 6, 2019. The Rite of Election will be celebrated on Sunday, March 10, 2019 (the First Sunday of Lent). Holy Week begins with Passion/Palm Sunday on April 14, 2019 and culminates with the Great Easter Vigil on Saturday, April 20, 2019 and Easter Sunday on April 21, 2019. The Easter season closes with the celebration of Pentecost on the weekend of June 8-9, 2019.